4.3.12

MARK OF A CHAMPION

Mark Allen’s emphatic capture of the Haikou World Open title today is the fulfilment of a snooker talent who arrived on the professional scene already a winner.

Allen won just about everything possible as an amateur: the Northern Ireland title in all age divisions, the European juniors, the European amateur championship and the IBSF world amateur crown.

So he was used to winning before turning pro and this was evident again when he was selected as a wildcard for the 2005 Northern Ireland Trophy.

In his television debut against the great Steve Davis he did not freeze. Far from it, he played superbly and beat the six times world champion. The following day he beat John Higgins.

Very quickly Allen joined the top 16. He started making semi-finals – including at the 2009 Wordl Championship and 2011 Masters – and this season reached his first final at the UK Championship, where he contested a thrilling tussle with Judd Trump.

He was 3-0 down to Trump in the last 16 earlier this week but never stopped believing he could win, the same attributes that saw him come from 5-2 in arrears to beat Mark Selby 6-5 in the semi-finals.

Today he was unstoppable. To beat a resurgent Stephen Lee 10-1 is some achievement.

It’s a case of what a difference a year makes for the Antrim man. Last year, he went to the airport to fly to Hainan Island for an invitation event but was overcome by panic and could not get on the plane.

He subsequently received treatment for depression. Things picked up in his personal life and he is now engaged to his girlfriend, Kyla.

Allen has repeatedly stated that he doesn’t like travelling but in fact this is his second final far from home this season after he partnered Gerard Greene to the runners-up spot for Northern Ireland in the World Cup. His first professional title also came in China, the 2009 Jiangsu Classic.

He’s not endeared himself to everyone in the sport but, like his legendary compatriot Alex Higgins, doesn’t seem to care.

Maybe after the controversy earlier in the week he fired himself up with an ‘I’ll show them’ attitude.

Well, he showed us what we already know: that he’s a brilliant player possessed of steely resolve with the ability to beat anyone in the game.
Now that he has won his first ranking title there is no reason why more shouldn’t follow.

He was focussed like a madman during the first session. It was really great to watch. He survived a brief lull in his concentration because Lee couldn't capitalise (probably already demoralised at that point).

That was a real battering. Lee only just survived a whitewash (that one frame he won was still losable until he sank the very last black ball).

He's in the easiest quarter. Avoids O'Sullivan, Higgins, Williams, Trump and Robertson. You can't ask for more than that really. That must probably rank as one of the best first title wins ever.

Allen obviously needs a bit of controversy to get going. Maybe he could slag off chav culture when he heads for the Masters; go in for a bit of holocaust denial at the German Masters; complain that Sheffield is overrun with Asians when he heads for the Crucible; call the Welsh a nation of Sheep shaggers...he could win the whole lot!

The snooker fraternity awaits the next installment of the Mark Allen story and his words of infinite wisdom, rapier wit and profound observations about the world in which we live.He has tackled matters such as the lack of business acumen of entrepreneur Barry Hearn who he claimed should resign.He also managed to quickly condemn the Chinese people as "ignorant" during his brief stay.This guy is a big hitter. No doubt that next will be the Cameron/Clegg alliance.I expect Mark to say something really relevent, current and insightful about these world matters.All done tastefully and with no little class and sophistication.

Yet again, no mention of the final on sports bulletins on Radio 5live... but if you're into swimming then you're well catered for. Also on one well known agency's sports wires, no mention of the snooker from yesterday, but plenty of water-based sports reports as that's what everyone on the streets are talking about.

Hello, Dave. I would like to know one detail about PTC Grand Final 2012: is it a ranking tournament or minor-ranking? If you know, please, answer:) p.s. Sorry for off topic and (probably) my bad english.

Surely Dave it can't be classed as a ranking event as it is open to pro's and amateurs. Yes it provides ranking points but what would happen (in the very unlikely event) that Mike Hallett wins one ;-) ?

Couldn't help but notice that John Parrott is coming out of retirement to enter the qualifying for the World Championship.

Be amazing if he made it, but think he will lose to Patrick Wallace first up.

Hendry has been dealt a good draw, while Steve Davis and Jimmy White have a chance.

The nugget would face Dominic Dale, who despite two ranking event wins, is not a player that scores too heavily or has capacity to do so like others in the 17-32 bracket, and White would have to play Jamie Cope, a player who is experiencing a crisis of confidence.

Yes, the quarter with Ding and Selby is the easiest, when compared to the draws in the other rounds. The top quarter has two players who have five world titles between them from 8 world finals. The second quarter has three finalists with 4 finals and a win between them. The third quarter has three world champions with 6 titles between them. The fourth quarter is the only section without a world champion, although it has two finalists with three finals to their name.

At least I'm using logic, anon. The fact is Ding is a huge Crucible under-performer with just a single semi to his name. Higgins, Dott, Murphy, Carter, Trump, O'Sullivan, Robertson, have all reached the final since Selby reached it and are all in other sections of the draw.

The bottom half of the draw is clearly stronger. Higgins and Trump are favourites to get to the semi in the top half, the bottom could be anyone from Robertson/O'Sullivan/Selby/Allen/Ding. The bottom quarter of the draw is the strongest in terms of competitiveness. This is going on form and not historical statistics that mean next to nothing in the context of this years event.

"Clearly" as in based on your own subjective opinion. You have included two players who have never reached a final and one who last reached it five years ago, so your view has very little credibility in my eyes. More often than not, the world final is contested by players who have previously contested a world final in the previous 5/6 years, so historical form in the event obviously counts for something. In this century alone, the world final has been contested by 16 repeat offenders as opposed to 8 debutantes, so you are twice as likely to reach the final if you have been there before. Next time anon, do your homework before posting nonsense.

I'd certainly have Murphy and Dott ahead of Ding and Allen. Ding and Allen have only reached one semi apiece, whereas Murphy and Dott reached two of the last three finals lol. You don't have a clue anon, you're the reason bookies stay in business.